Wound dehiscence is a serious postoperative condition that can be life-threatening. Wound complications following surgery occur in approximately 2.3% of cardiac or thoracic surgery patients. While most patients will not experience serious wound dehiscence, it's important to understand and follow the proper steps to prevent its occurrence.
Wound Dehiscence Prevention
Heart Hugger Sternum Support Harness provides wound support for cardiac or thoracic surgery patients. Heart Hugger allows patients to apply pressure as needed to support the sternal wound area. The harness encircles the rib cage, and patients squeeze the handles together to apply pressure as needed.
Heart Hugger Sternum Support Harness can provide patients with an effective method for wound dehiscence prevention. By helping surgical patients avoid strain to the sternal wound area, Heart Hugger aids the healing process and helps prevent the serious complication of wound dehiscence.
Following cardiac surgery, dehiscence prevention involves taking steps to avoid unnecessary stress to the wound area during healing. Some of the more common stresses include getting in and out of bed, lifting, coughing, vomiting, exertion, or constipation.
Signs of Wound Dehiscence
Patients should be aware of the warning signs of wound dehiscence. Early detection can prevent more serious sternal wound complications. Some of the more common symptoms include:
- Swelling, pain or inflammation at the wound site
- Fever
- A sudden opening at the wound site, including broken sutures and a lack of the usual signs of healing
- Drainage
Heart Hugger is a proven solution to help patients manage pain, protect the sternal closure, and avoid serious wound complications. When used in conjunction with a doctor's advice, Heart Hugger helps cardiac and thoracic surgery patients heal faster and prevent after-surgery complications.
To find out more about how Heart Heart Sternum Support Harness relieves stress on surgical wounds and aids in wound dehiscence prevention, get in touch with us today.